Archive for 3443

SMITTY: He just can’t shake this ankle injury, but the team is reportedly hopeful that he can play in Week 14. This gives bumps to both Joique Bell and Theo Riddick. Looking for Week 13 Power Rankings?

SMITTY:Theo Riddick has been a player we’ve liked a lot for a while now, and it’s nice to see him finally get a chance. It’s tough to say how good he can be splitting time with Reggie Bush, who both already share time with Joique Bell, but if Bush can’t stay healthy, watch out. Riddick is a top-five pick-up heading into Week 9 Add/Drops. Looking for Week 9 Power Rankings?

SMITTY: We have been hearing this for a while now, so we’re simply passing along the reinforcing info on this one whenever it shows its ugly face. His ankle injury clearly is bad and the logic here is that the team will rest both Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush (ankle) this week since the Lions are on a bye in Week 9 (giving both players two weeks to get healthier). Kick off for this game, in London, is at 9:30 AM ET, so stay close to both this news wire and your Smart Alerts for updates on both players. For now, get ready for a whole lot of Golden Tate and Joique Bell, especially with rookie TE Eric Ebron also set to miss Week 8! Looking for Week 8 Power Rankings?

We had a few big injuries in Week 7, along with some other injuries worth monitoring. Here we go:

Injuries Heading Into Week 8:

C.J. Spiller broke his collarbone on a 53-yard run and is done for the season. Fred Jackson was injured early in this game as well — Both were carted to the locker room. The Bills have a bye in Week 9, but early word is that Jackson is already looking “out” for Week 8. Get ready for the Bryce Brown show, a player we said to go get prior to kickoff on Sunday (especially in dynasty). Now he gets to show his stuff. Make sure he isn’t on waivers in your league, especially if you lost either/both of these backs.

Reggie Bush (groin) received just nine touches in Week 7, as he was clearly still bothered by his ankle. Joique Bell is a dark horse RB2 of ours moving forward, but of course he can be had lower and should be valued lower (but with upside for that kind of production). If Bush stays moderately banged up for a bit, Bell will surely see some serious action. If Bush returns quickly, we still like Bell as a sneaky flex. Bell is extremely gifted, but he is the kind of back that gets better with carries and lots of work — We hope he gets a big dose of carries moving forward, but we aren’t in charge of his workload (unfortunately).

Other Injuries:

Pierre Thomas left Week 7 with a shoulder injury, Trent Richardson pulled a hamstring, James Starks injured his ankle, and Corey “Philly” Brown suffered a concussion. T-Rich being out only increases Ahmad Bradshaw’s value well past his RB2-type status, and an injured PT gives bumps to both Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson, but all these injuries just described above could be less serious, or more serious, than initially thought, so stay all over this news wires and our Smart Alerts for updates.

SMITTY: It’s tough to speculate on this just yet, and Graham and the Saints still have over a day to decide. If Graham does go, even in a limited red-zone look capacity, he is a must-play, so stay on both our news wire and Smart Alerts. We will also keep you updated if any news breaks on Calvin Johnson, who is currently expected to miss this contest between the Saints and Lions. If both of these studs sit, Calvin and Graham, both Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford lose their top 5QB upside this week, but both are still must-starts (unless you have Stafford and a comparable QB with a better match-up). Reggie Bush and Golden Tate should have nice outings if both end up being Stafford’s top receiving options in Week 7. Looking for Week 7 Power Rankings?

Donald Brown left Week 5 with a concussion. Branden Oliver dropped 182 total yards and 2TDs in Week 5, and he now becomes a must-own in all leagues and this week’s top waiver wire grab.

Montee Ball suffered a groin injury in Week 5 and is getting an MRI. He is looking very questionable for the next couple games. Ronnie Hillman is a must grab this week.

Calvin Johnson suffered a setback in Week 5; his week 6 status is in question.

Rashad Jennings left Week 5 with a knee injury and will undergo an MRI. Andre Williams is not likely available in any leagues, but do check. If Jennings is out, Williams could produce fantasy RB2 numbers if getting starter carries.

Jimmy Graham injured his shoulder in Week 5, but early word is that it isn’t serious. Stay tuned.

Reggie Bush left Week 5 with an ankle injury. It is not though to be serious, but stay tuned. Hopefully Joique Bell will be back in the next contest.

Drew Stanton suffered a concussion in Week 5; Carson Palmer could be back next week, so keep tabs on this one. Palmer back would be good for Floyd, Fitz and Ellington.

Zac Stacy exited Week 5 with a calf injury. He did not return to the game, so there is concern here. Benny Cunningham is a must-grab if for some reason he is available. It’s not likely, though, but check waivers.

SMITTY: He is set as ‘questionable’ for Week 5 with the ankle, but a couple sources now expect Calvin to play. How effective will be be this week, though? Will he once again be a decoy? The bottom line is this… if he plays, you have to run him out onto the field. Even as a projected decoy in the past, he always found a way to pull in big numbers. Just stay close to both our news wire and our Smart Alerts, as things could change directions during warm-ups. Whether Calvin is out or not, and even more so if he is, Reggie Bush could explode, as the team is without Joique Bell this week, and they need someone catching passes. Golden Tate is also set for a huge game if Calvin sits, but he is an excellent start this week even if Calvin goes. For more on this game, view your Smart Alerts that we just sent out on this, as we talk a bit about Sammy Watkins and Eric Ebron heading into this week.

We have so many probable, questionable and out players to report on today, I tossed a majority of them into this one post. It looks like Reggie Bush is going to get a ton of work in Week 5, he is an excellent start this week. Good luck with all your decisions, folks, and be sure to get on our forums and get some last-minute line-up advice!

Probable Players for Week 5

A.J. Green (toe) was limited in practice on Friday, but is probable for Week 5.Julio Jones (ankle) is probable for Week 5.Dez Bryant (shoulder) is probable for Week 5.Jamaal Charles (ankle) is probable for Week 5.Andre Ellington (foot) is probable for Week 5.Jordan Cameron (shoulder) is probable for Week 5.Arian Foster (hamstring) is probable for Week 5.Tony Romo (back) is probable for Week 5.Golden Tate (hamstring) is probable for Week 5.Ladarius Green (hamstring) is probable for Week 5.Sammy Watkins (ribs) is probable for Week 5.Austin Seferian-Jenkins (foot) is listed as questionable for Week 5.Ben Tate is probable for Week 5.

Questionable Players for Week 5

Andre Johnson (ankle) was held out of Friday’s practice and is questionable for Week 5.Vernon Davis (back) is questionable for Week 5.

According to reports, Lions RB Reggie Bush (knee) was limited during Wednesday’s practice; Bush was seen icing his knee on Wednesday.

SMITTY: Predicting injury is a tough business to be in, but there is a reason Joique Bell has been one of my biggest sleeper rushers heading into 2014… Bush has huge injury risk with those knees, and given how aggressively he cuts and runs, the odds of Bush getting hurt are better than the odds of him staying healthy, especially given that he played through last year with knee issues. Even in a sharing role, that Lions offense force-feeds Joique Bell solid touches, proof by his 51 yards rushing and 1TD last week. On top of that, the guy catches 50+ passes a season in that sharing role. If not given the majority of carries, Bell still has awesome flex-type value… but, if given a starter’s workload, this could be the runner that puts strong RB2s on many fantasy benches in the near future. I say all this now not so that you all can go buy-high… go buy-low if you can, his value, if healthy, can almost go nowhere but up. Take a look at our Joique Bell Week 1 Power Rankings?